Antique Beaded Bags Are Glamorous and Collectible
Purse with beaded flowers and fringe, knitted with multicolored beads, metal bail and chain, silk lining, customs stamp with “Douane Paris (Customs Paris),” c.1830, 8 1/2 by 7 in., $199.
The intricate artistry of beaded handbags has attracted fashionistas and art enthusiasts alike for nearly 200 years. A recent sale by Quittenbaum Kunstauktionen GmbH of Munich, Germany, had 240 lots of beaded bags, most European-made, from the estate of a German art historian. Top price was $1,701 for a 1920s drawstring pouch with green and […]